Environment and Sustainability

How can the City shape policies and develop programs to be a leader in sustainability and environmental innovations?

PHOTO: CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD

2017 CASE STUDY: WEST HOLLYWOOD GOSOLAR CAMPAIGN

Innovation and sustainability are closely linked in the City of West Hollywood. The City’s GoSolar campaign is an innovative way of providing customized solar options for our residents. A majority of our residents live in multi-family housing units like apartment buildings; this can make it difficult to pursue renewable energy options like solar panels due to shared ownership rights, complex electricity metering, and a limited availability of options.

To help these property owners explore their solar options, the City launched Go Solar West Hollywood, a program that provides free access to online resources and tools so that every resident, no matter where they live, can make the switch to solar energy. In partnership with EnergySage, an online solar marketplace developed with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy, this program is uniquely designed to ensure that all our residents can easily move through the education, quote comparison, and installation process.

The City has been recognized as a SolSmart Gold Community for advancing efforts in supporting strong local solar markets and the City continues to supplement its solar program outreach by educating the community on energy and water efficiency programs offered by local utilities.

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PHOTO: JON VISCOTT

2016 CASE STUDY: INTRODUCING ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

While the inaugural Innovations Annual Report included a number of recommendations in five focus areas, the 2016 report included a new category dedicated entirely to the City’s Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives.